In a Nov. 12 opinion piece, former UK House of Commons Speaker John Bercow calls on Western governments to support Iran’s democratic opposition and says he will speak at the Free Iran Convention in Washington, D.C., on November 15.
John Bercow, who served as Speaker of the UK House of Commons from 2009 to 2019, argues in a Daily Wire op‑ed that the UK‑US “special relationship” entails a moral duty to back Iranian democrats against Tehran’s clerical regime. He writes that he will address the Free Iran Convention in Washington, D.C., on November 15. The event is billed by organizers as bringing together more than 1,000 Iranian American scholars, professionals, and community leaders. (dailywire.com)
Bercow contends that Western policy has too often sidelined Iranian dissidents, including the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the broader National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Rights groups and historians widely recognize mass prison killings in 1988; while opposition groups say about 30,000 people were killed—mostly MEK members and supporters—independent documentation generally refers to “thousands.” Recent U.S. congressional text cites “up to 30,000,” reflecting the dispute. (en.wikipedia.org)
On the security picture, the U.S. government continues to describe Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, and the United States designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2019. Bercow echoes calls for U.K. and EU terrorist listings, which have not been enacted to date. (iranprimer.usip.org)
Bercow also points to Iran’s advancing nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran has amassed uranium enriched up to 60%—a short step from weapons‑grade—and noted Iran is the only non‑nuclear‑weapon state producing such material. (euronews.com)
On human rights, independent monitors report a sharp increase in executions. Amnesty International recorded at least 853 executions in 2023 and a further surge in 2024 and 2025, making Iran responsible for the majority of known global executions in recent years. Bercow’s broader claim that executions are pervasive is consistent with those findings, though “highest per‑capita” is not uniformly reported by monitors. (amnestyusa.org)
Policy momentum has shifted in recent months. On August 28, 2025, the UK, France and Germany triggered the UN “snapback” mechanism over Iran’s non‑performance under the 2015 nuclear deal, leading to the re‑imposition of UN sanctions in late September. In parallel, Washington has re‑launched a “maximum pressure” sanctions strategy this year. (gov.uk)
Bercow cites growing parliamentary endorsements for the NCRI and Maryam Rajavi’s 10‑point plan for a secular, non‑nuclear republic. In the United States, a House resolution in the current Congress backing those aims has more than 218 co‑sponsors—a majority. In the UK, supporters of the NCRI say more than 550 MPs and peers have signed a statement endorsing Rajavi’s plan; this is a political declaration outside formal parliamentary proceedings and is reported by NCRI‑aligned outlets. (congress.gov)
His recommendations include proscribing the IRGC in Europe, pursuing accountability for alleged crimes against humanity, and recognizing Iranians’ right to resist tyranny. He concludes: “Appeasement has never delivered stability. Courage, clarity, and solidarity with the Iranian people just might.” (dailywire.com)
